LVDell

Just picked up a 2008 E350 and it is "prewired" for bluetooth but the dealer says that you need to buy a $495 "puck" for the bluetooth to work with my iPhone.

Does the price sound right?
Is this something that is a MB part or aftermarket?
What is the going rate for this or is $495 the going rate?

TIA!

Cheers,
Dell

bertman

These modules are available discounted from certain dealers and they are usually listed on eBay, pn B6-7-87-5878.

Good luck!

Long Islander

If you buy from someone who's not a MB dealer, I would just make sure it's covered by MB warranty.

LVDell

That would be my main concern. Buying it for a few bucks less someplace else and then something go wrong to not be covered by the MB warranty. I guess $495 is the going rate?

lkchris

It's an MB part made by Motorola.

This is the going price.

The reason you have to buy it is that not all Mercedes purchasers want a phone in their car and other owners prefer a direct-connect phone instead.

LVDell

I guess that is the going price for full retail. Not sure how many people are paying that though. I have seen them over the past week trade on eBay for between 250-400 depending on used or new.

I understand that some people don't want MB phone but I don't buy the argument that people want a direct connect option more or that is the rationale for not having it functional for those of us with BT. I just find it comical that you pay for a "package" that includes the hardwire only but not the actual capability out of the box. Heck, my Dad got the "direct connect" MB Moto phone for his SL500 and his wife's CLK500 and they HATED the phones. Preferred to have a phone of their choosing and then use BT technology.

Several of my friends and family have other brands that have BT in the car and it is functional from day 1 with no $500 part to add on.

I have no problem buying the part, but I want to make sure if I have to buy an add-on part that I am getting the best price on it. My salesguy said he would just install it for me so I don't have to pay the service dept for the install labor.

From what I am reading this is a very simplistic self-install. I'll probably just get one from eBay or a MB dealer that sells below full retail and install myself.

Thank you for your input Kent!

wmhjr

Sorry - no insult intended but that's crap.

The reason is that MB is trying to get every penny out of the car regardless of the competition. MB is the only manufacturer that does this - period. EVERY other manufacturer of cars in this category don't even need a "puck" - they just work. This is just another example of MB arrogance. They came very close to losing me as a customer this time (just bought a new W211) and if they continue down the same path they will certainly lose me next time. It was a real tough call this time around.

Diesel Benz

I agree that the MB BT support seems really odd but I believe the truth is somewhere in-between. First, MB was still very recently of the opinion that a cell phone should not be used in the car if it was using its own antenna. This is why they selected the BT SAP approach. Looking from Europe they missed the fact that the US is using CDMA phones a lot and the BT SAP does not work there. They were forced to allow BT HF.

Considering the legacy implementation of HF, even if some COMAND units did support BT, it was not possible to support BT HF without having the cell phone control unit. The BT puck then appeared as an accessory for the phone kit. Starting from the fact that the car has a traditional phone kit and support for a physical cradle connection option, the BT puck is pretty obvious. There are also owners who insist on a cradle option.

But MB did eventually follow the big market preference, the W204 does what several other brands did already earlier and which you seem to consider obvious, BT HF through the HU without any phone kit options. However, MB still offers the cradle option too for the W204 for those who prefer that (to charge the phone, to be able to use the external car antenna for better call quality etc.). In my opinion MB just should have made the W204 implementation available earlier.

justforfun

I paid $750 for Bluetooth w/voice recognition for my BMW M3.

wmhjr

The truth is that MB lags behind other manufacturers in terms of electronics in a relatively serious fashion. Especially in the US, where many options which try to approach parity outside the US are simply not available to us. The BT puck issue is just another one of those features.

Don't get me wrong - I've enjoyed my MB's. Enough that I just bought a new W211. However I also won't make excuses and rationalize some obvious problems with MB. I'll keep this W211 for a while. I bought a new '08 a month ago. However it was a much closer decision than in the past and I almost went elsewhere. If they don't make some serious changes it's very unlikely that I'll make the same decision again. The competition is frankly just getting too tough. And for me this isn't really a cost issue - I just wrote a check for mine. Anything was on the table as a viable option.

Scambo

Does anyone have a comment on the difference in sound quality (outgoing or incoming) between the direct connect phone and the Bluetooth puck option. I have the BT puck installed, and although convenient as an add-on, it sounds pretty weak both ways. The volume coming in is relatively low, and people can barely hear me or they say I sound like I'm in a tin can. Since the stereo system is limited on volume anyway, it makes it quite frustrating when I can’t really hear the person talking. The incoming sound seems to be directed through the center channel in the system once the person begins talking, and that center channel has some rattling and possibly blown center speaker, so the sound then is even worse. When I place a call and I hear the phone ringing, the volume is loud and clear, but once the talking begins, the sound seems to drop down in volume and clarity. Thoughts?

Barry45RPM

I use a V 710 Cradled (MB) Phone on a Verizon Family Share Plan $10/ a month. All of the features work as they are supposed to, and call quality is superb. The Roof Top antenna is being used for all calls, not the phone's.

Every once in a while (rarely) I am told there is an echo when I speak, but I chalk that up to the individual connection as it is gone when I re-dial.

Its the more expensive way to have a phone in an MB, but for me its worth it because I cradled the phone the day of delivery, and havent been bothered by anything since. I hate to be aggravated.

dpalm

cost in the purchase, i as for that, and they finally agreed. Their price was in the $500's. The BT device works great with my iPhone, and worked well with the Nokia 8801, i had before that. It takes 2-3 minutes for the phone to sync up and make the directory available, but all in all, works very well.

dhho1

I have the bluetooth puck thing for my 07 E550. It doesn't work very well with my AT&T BlackJack 1. It will not download the phone book. I still have to manually add my most dial numbers to the Benz's phone book. I got my off eBay a year ago and it has no problem so far.

lkchris

I have absolutely no desire to have bluetooth and love the fact my direct-connect phone is charged by the car electrical system and uses the car's antenna.

I'll stand by my statement despite the conspiracy theorists.

spilok

Just picked up my '08 E350 4Matic on Friday. Cost $495 extra for the Bluetooth. But it's great, and my Wife loves it. That was the "Installed" price.

Great option.
Stan

Benz-O-Rama

My bluetooth works great. Very rarely do I get a complaint and I have no problem hearing the person on the other end.

I wonder how much your phone's bluetooth circuitry has to do with it. Maybe some phones are better than others? I'm using the new Verizon LG Voyager.

mbe3504matic

picked up a puck for $255 at prestige mercedes in nj.

KYBENZ

$255.00!!!! That is less than cost. Was it used or are they making it up in volume??
Was it part # B67875878?

spilok

My Razr from Verizon works great. However, within 30 days, I'm getting the Voyager and the Venus for my wife. Sounds like the Voyager has NO problems. Good news. That's why this forum is so valuable. Now I know it will work from the response on the Voyager up above here.

Ps. How do you like that Voyager phone?

Stan

Benz-O-Rama

The Voyager is great, Stan. There is a trick to get the phonebook to download, so PM me when you get it. I think I posted the procedure so searching may lead you to the promised land too.

The Venus also works without any drama.

As for the Voyager itself, it's cool. The iPhone has a much better interface, MUCH! But Verizon's service is far superior IMO to ATT. The browsing on the phone isn't all what it's cracked up to be but I surf on it to pass the time when I'm on the toilet.

cyclerider

OK, that is just WAAAAAY too much information.

thunderinn2000

My new Iphone doesn't work in the Mercedes Benz. The Apple people told me it isn't the phone but Mercedes Benz.

thunderinn2000

The E350 (2008) has the following bad design features:

1. Nylon along the door threshold, how stupid.
2. No place for storage of sunglasses or other.
3. Sports package cannot allow for tire rotation--they don't tell you that before you buy!
4. Lexus next time.....

ericjburd

Yeah thats the going 500, when I was grinding them on the price I stilll go them to throw it in because I did think it was lame of them not to include the whole package. My infiniti FX35 has it all built in, but I do have so say that the MB outgoing sound quality is better.